Ulster gave club legend Ruan Pienaar a winning send off at Kingspan with a 17-13 victory over Leinster but it wasn’t enough for them to sneak into the Guinness PRO12 semi-finals.
The home side needed a bonus point victory at least but were unable to get the four-tries against a Leinster side who slipped to second after Munster’s victory.
Roger Wilson, on his 221nd and last Ulster appearance, and Andrew Trimble got the vital scores for Ulster while Leinster responded with a penalty try.
An emotional Pienaar led out the Ulster side with his son Jean Luc at the Kingspan Stadium in what was in final appearance for the club.
Joey Carbery put the visitors ahead with two minutes gone after Ulster were penalised for a high tackle before Josh van der Flier made a try-saving tackle on wing Trimble.
The danger wasn’t averted though and a five metre scrum for Ulster and Roger Wilson managed to force his way over from close range to give his side the lead with Paddy Jackson adding the extras.
Fly-half Carbery was able to reduce the deficit to 7-6 with a 22nd-minute penalty following a strong Garry Ringrose break for Leinster.
Piutau was a continous threat to the Leinster line and although the visitors enjoyed spells of pressure themselves it was Ulster who got the final points of the first 40.
Jackson added his second successful kick in the final minute to give Ulster a 10-6 lead at the half-way point.
Pienaar gave Ulster the perfect start to the second half as his chip through was collected by winger Trimble who dotted down with Jackson adding the extras.
Leinster thought they had responded immediately when Cian Healy forced his way over but the TMO adjudged him to have been held up and the visitors were forced to settle for a five metre scrum.
And after numerous re-set scrums the visitors had the try they were after as referee Andrew Brace awarded them the penalty try and Carbery added the extra to reduce the arrears to 17-13.
Pienaar was replaced to a massive standing ovation with just over ten minutes left to go and Carbery kicked Leinster deep into Munster territory from a penalty with 74 minutes remaining.
But the visitors, who already had a home semi-final secured, were unable to force their way through a stubborn Ulster defence and will now face Scarlets in the Guinness PRO12 semi-finals.
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